The Jericho Foundation

West Midlands

Registered Charity Number: 1037084

Project name: Equiano Foundations (EF)

Project overview

EF will offer pre-employment skills and support to enable survivors of modern slavery (SOMS) to progress in their journey towards employment and reduce risk of re-exploitation. It will meet the skills gap of those not yet ready to access supported employment offered by our current Equiano project.

Many SOMS lack positive workplace experiences and the skills and resilience to function and contribute in a legitimate workplace. EF will offer weekly 1:1 and group Maths and English tuition, and support with life skills including workplace behaviour, rights, expectations and awareness of risks of re-exploitation. Monthly social activities will build friendship and inclusion. There will be opportunity for workplace visits, shadowing and taster days in Jericho's own social enterprises, a safe space where staff are experienced in supporting the vulnerable. EF will increase skills, reduce fear, introduce positive work environments and provide reassurance that exploitation and control is not tolerated within a legitimate workplace.

How the £50,000 grant will help

Modern slavery is a widespread greed-driven crime, robbing dignity, freedom and hope. The Global Slavery Index estimates 136,000 people are in slavery in the UK today and rescue is the beginning of a long journey of recovery. Developing our work with SOMS is central to our five-year business plan. We are experts in the field and we want to respond to the growing need for longer term, sustained support. The key focus of our existing working with SOMS offers legitimate work in a therapeutic environment as a conduit for a safer, independent future. We know there is a need for a pre-supported employment programme, which helps build education and skills for younger/more vulnerable SOMS who are further away from employability. A grant from Ecclesiastical will play a critical role in taking our work to the next level. EF will be a pilot, two years' funding will help create an evidence base, measure impact and fully evaluate our work.